2004 Halloween game, Patriots vs. Steelers

Now on NFL Network.

Forgot how awesome Plaxico Burress, Duce Staley and Deshea Townsend were.

 

Hoke played NT for most of that season. Forgot Hampton was on IR.

 

Townsend's pick 6 off of Brady put the Steelers up 21-3 in the first quarter and it was clear sailing after that. That was Ben's rookie year when the Steelers beat the undefeated Eagles and Patriots in back to back weeks.

 

In 2004,the steelers peak in the middle at the season.In 2005 they peak at the perfect time in the playoffs!

Cowher-Ben would been a all-time great HC-QB combo if Cowher would stay much longer...In 2004-2005 the steelers were 27-4 with Ben(22-3 in the regular season and 5-1 in the playoffs)

 

Going into the Eagle game** (one of greatest Steeler moments for my family) was Duce injured? Little blank here who are other RB was but I know one of them was out for game.

** Harvin would have been amazing that game since the Steelers never punted that game

 

was a fun team that year. Ben out of now-where. Duce was amazing ..... until he pulled that hammy (I think that is what happened)

then we hopped back on the Bus!

 

Cowher didn't want to deal with that Diva crap from his QB. Bill stepped away perfectly

 

Or was Bus hurt for the Eagle game and Duce had a great game?????

 

2006 was a tough season. Ben, with the accident and the appendectomy, wasn’t himself all year. Losing Randle El and Hope had a greater impact than anyone thought. And it seems like there were some conflicts between Cowher and the front office. I think Cowher just got fed up

 

was bettis hurt?

Duce had been named starter that year

 

Hmm... I remember we had a huge party, half Eagle fans/half us. We were complaining before start of game that our starting RB was out. I think that was Bus?????

 

you may be correct

hard to believe that was 20 years ago! memory has faded....

i do remember we brought in Duce, high profile FA for us at the time - Bus, end of his HOF career. I thought he was back-up that year.

but may be wrong!!

just pulled up 2004 Duce stats:
played a lot thru week 7 - then i recall he did get injured, pretty sure it was a hammy.
24
16
22
25
21
18
25

carries thru first 7 games.

Bus was back up or 2nd string, had limited carries early that season, then his workload really picked up.

 

Bettis had 149 rushing yards vs eagles...the first game for him as starter in 2004.Staley had a great start with us but after that he was injury prone like crazy


https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200411070pit.htm

 

It's a shame that we only tend to remember Staley for his tracksuit. He was a great signing until he got injured.

If you watch the Patriots 'America's Game' for this season, they try and narrate it like the Steelers were far too cocky when they won this game, and so the Pats took revenge on them in the play offs. They play down the fact that the Pats had been unbeated for a ridiculously long stretch and we were complete underdogs that season.

 

That was the AFC championship game where Hines Ward said that Teddy Bruschi was yelling out the Steelers play call as soon as the Steelers broke the huddle.

 

Fan boy much ?

 

After watching that game 20 years later, Roethlisberger was damn impressive as a rookie QB. More than a game manager. Pickett and Trubisky were nowhere near Ben in ability...and pretty much clown show QBs.

 

correct - Ben had the 'it' factor

Kenny does not

kenny will wash out of the league soon